Aquatic Animal Protection Act
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Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017(1960)

Date of Authentication Assent: Date of publication in Nepal Gazette:
2017.8.29(13 December 1960) 2017.9.28 (11 January 1961)
Amending Act Date of Royal Assent and
Publication
1. Some Nepal Laws (Amending and Revalidating)
Act, 2020 (1964) 2020.11.16 (28 March 1964)
2. The Administration of Justice, 2048(1991) 2048.2.16 (30 May 1991)
3. The Aquatic Animal Protection (First Amendment)
Act, 2055(1997) 2055.10.7 (20 February 1997)

Act number 18 of the year 2017(1960)

An Act Made to Provide for Protection of Aquatic Animals and Other
Matters Pertaining Thereto
Preamble: Whereas, it is expedient to make provisions on the protection of
aquatic animals and other matters pertaining thereto in order to maintain peace and
order as well as convenience and economic interests of the general public;
Now, therefore, be it enacted by the Parliament in the sixth year of reign of
His Majesty King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.
1. Short title and commencement: (1) This Act may be called as the
"Aquatic Animal Protection Act, 2017 (1960)."
(2) This Act shall extend throughout Nepal. Amended by Some Nepal Laws (Amending and Revalidating) Act, 2020 (1964).

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(3) This Act shall come into force immediately at once.
2. Definitions: Unless the subject or the context otherwise requires, in this
Act:
(a)1 "water" means the water of a lake, daha, rill, stream, river, canal,
pond, ditch, reservoir, artificial reservoir, wetland, craze installed for
aquaculture and paddy field where aquaculture is done and includes
their sources.
(b) "aquatic animal" means any animal living in water.
(c)1 "local authority" means the chief district officer of the district
concerned.
(c1) "technical officer" means an employee designated by Government
of Nepal to carry out fishery development or fishery research or
fishery publicity works.
(c2) "fish ladder" means an alternative route made in the water for the
movement of aquatic animals.
(d) "private water" means a lake, pond, daha, talau, or reservoir in such
land as is owned and possessed by an individual and the land
revenue or land tax is being paid by that individual to His Majesty's
Government.
(e) "prescribed" or "as prescribed" means prescribed or as prescribed in
the Rules framed under this Act.
3. Restriction on methods of catching and killing aquatic animal: No
person shall knowingly ---- ---- use any kind of electric current,1
1 Amended by First Amendment.
Inserted by First Amendment.
Deleted by First Amendment

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explosive substance or poisonous substance with intent on of catching and
killing any aquatic animal in any water.
Provided that, nothing contained in this Section or he eunder shall
prevent the owner of a private water from using anymethod whatsoever,
except using poisonous substance, for catching or killing any aquatic
animals in his/her private water in such manner as not to cause any loss to
aquatic animals in any other water.
3A. Prohibition on closing or demolishing doors of fish ladder and
structure: No person, other than the authorized person, shall close or
demolish the doors of a fish ladder, dyke and any other kind of structure
placed in the water for the protection of any aquatic nimals.
4. Powers of Government of Nepal to prohibit the catching, killing and
wounding of certain kinds of aquatic animals: Government of Nepal
may, by an order published in the Nepal Gazette, prevent:
(a) the intentional catching, killing and wounding of the aquatic animals
of the species specified in that order by any person without obtaining
license from Government of Nepal or the local authori y, and
(b) the intentional catching, killing and wounding by any person of any
aquatic animals in any season specified in and of any quatic
animals as specified in that order.
Provided that, nothing contained in this Section and
hereunder shall apply to the aquatic animals in the private water of
any person.
5. Powers of Government of Nepal to prohibit the catching, killing and
wounding of aquatic animals in some specific water: Government of
Nepal may, by an order published in the Nepal Gazette, prevent the
Inserted by First Amendment.

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intentional catching, killing and wounding by any person of any aquatic
animals in the water in such place as may be specified in that order without
obtaining license from Government of Nepal or loca authority; and
Government of Nepal shall have exclusive rights over all the aquatic
animals in the water of such place.
Provided that, Government of Nepal shall not issue ch order in
respect of the private water owned by any person.
5A. Prohibition on using poison other than safe poison: Where any
poisonous substance has to be used for the purpose of catching or killing
any aquatic animals, no poison of any kind other than the safe poison shall
be used for that purpose.
Explanation: For the purposes of this Section, "safe poison" means such
chemical or herbs as recommended by the technical officer.
5B. Other provisions relating to aquatic animals: (1) Anybody which builds
a dyke for electricity, water supply, irrigation orany other purpose shall
build a fish ladder to the extent possible so that e movement of aquatic
animals is not affected. Where it is not possible to build such ladder, the
body shall make an aquatic animal hatchery and aquatic animal nursery in
such place or in an area in vicinity thereof for the purpose of having
artificial breeding of aquatic animals.
(2) Prior information shall be given to the technical officer in doing
construction works as referred to in Sub-section (1).
6. Rights of Citizen: Nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed to
prevent any citizen from catching or killing aquatic animals in the other
water, subject to Section 3, except in such season nd place as prohibited
by any orders issued under Sections 4 and 5.
Inserted by First Amendment.

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7. 1 Provisions relating to contract: (1) Government of Nepal may contract
out the catching and killing of one or more kinds of the aquatic animals in
any water whatsoever under its control.
(2) In awarding a contract for doing aquaculture or killing fishes in
any water pursuant to the prevailing law, the local bodies shall make
consultation with the technical officer.
(3) In awarding a contract as referred to in Sub-section (1) or (2), the
standards of the tools used to catch or trap aquatic animals shall be as
prescribed.
(4) The procedures for awarding a contract as referr d to in sub-
section (1) or (2) shall be as prescribed.
8. Punishment: 1(1) A person who violates or abets to violate Section 3 or
3A. shall be punished, by order of the local authori y, with a fine not
exceeding Five Thousand Rupees, and compensation equal to the amount in
controversy shall also be recovered according to the gravity of offense, in
the event of any loss or damage caused from such violation. In doing
valuation of the loss and damage, the technical officer shall be got
involved.
(2) A person who violates or abets to violate any order issued under
Section 4 or 5 shall be punished, by order of the local authority, with a fine
not exceeding Two Thousand Rupees. 1
(3) Without prejudice to the punishment mentioned in Sub-sections
(1) and (2), a person who violates or abets to violate any matter contained
in the Rules framed or order issued under this Act shall be punished, by
1 Amended by First Amendment.

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order of the local authority, with a fine not exceeding One Thousand
Rupees.1
(4) All weapons, goods and articles which are held by person who is
proved guilty of an offense under this Act and related with that offense
shall also be confiscated by order of the local authori y.
(5) If an offender fails to pay the amount of fine imposed under this
Act, the same shall be recovered from the offender as a governmental due
by taking action in that respect.
9. Appeal: A person who is not satisfied with an order of punishment issued
by the local authority under Section 8 may make an appeal to the Court of
Appeal within Thirty Five days after the date of receipt of such order.
Provided that, if that person fails to furnish a deposit in a sum equal
to the fine to which he/she is held liable or monetary guarantee equal to that
sum, no appeal made by such person shall be entertai ed.
10. Payment of money recovered for fine and entry of forfeited weapons,
goods and articles to and into governmental fund: It shall be the duty of
the local authority to sell by auction the weapons, goods and articles
confiscated under this Act, other than weapons and explosive and
poisonous substance, and convert the proceeds into cash and pay such cash
and the moneys recovered for fine under this Act to the local Land
Revenue Office or Nepal Rastra Bank and deal with such weapons and
explosive and poisonous substance in accordance with the prevailing Nepal
law.
11. Powers of local authority: In trying cases under this Act, the local
authority shall have such all of such powers including recording
1 Amended by First Amendment. Amended by the Administration of Justice Act, 2048 (1991).

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depositions, examining witness and evidence and requiring submission of
documents as the court of first instance has.
12. Power to make arrest and possession: (1) If the local authority or
employee deputed by him/her or any police employee sees or gets evidence
that any person has committed, or caused to be committed, any act in
contravention of this Act or the Rules or orders framed or issued under this
Act, such authority or employee or police employee may arrest such person
without warrant and also possess of the weapons, goods and articles used in
the commission of such offense. The employee deputed by the local
authority or the police employee shall hand over th person so arrested and
the weapons, goods or articles so possessed to the local authority within
Twenty Four hours excluding the time required for journey.
(2) After the hand over made pursuant to sub-section (1), the local
in-charge shall take the required action within Twenty Four hours and
auction the goods possessed if the goods are perishable in presence of the
person arrested and deposit the proceeds thereof.
13. Prevalence of law in force: Nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed
to prevent the taking of action under the prevailing Nepal law where any
loss or damage is caused to any person from the commission of any act
prohibited by this Act and from the commission of an act by any person to
whom any Section of this Act is not applicable.
14. Powers to frame Rules: Government of Nepal may frame necessary Rules
to implement the objectives of this Act.
15. Repeal: (1) Number 25 of the Chapter on Public Order of the Muluki Ain
(General Code) is, hereby, repealed.
(2) The Nepal law that is inconsistent with this Act and the Rules or
orders framed or issued under this Act shall be deemed to have been

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repealed to the extent of such inconsistency or amended to be in harmony
therewith, as the case may be.